SEARCA offers to tie-up with DOST on climate change scholarships

At the opening of the annual Los Baños National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) celebration dubbed "SyenSaya" on 2 August 2017, Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr. (right), Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), discussed briefly with Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña (left) of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) possibilities for SEARCA to collaborate with DOST, particularly on scholarships intended to develop capacities and expertise of Filipinos to address Climate Change.

In the past, SEARCA has had sporadic collaborations with DOST, including those with its precursor, the National Science and Development Board (NSDB). NSDB funded a nationwide program called the Social Laboratory, a strategy for rural and agricultural development carried out in partnership with higher education institutions (HEIs) to uplift the socioeconomic conditions of rural farming communities.

Dr. Saguiguit said "in view of the changing landscape of agriculture and SEARCA's focus on promoting inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD), it is imperative that we look to S&T in order to produce more from less."

He underscored that it is toward this end that SEARCA is exploring possibilities to collaborate with DOST on agricultural R&D and capacity building initiatives, including said scholarships for advanced studies on climate change. (Leah Lyn D. Domingo)